Hygiene in bathing waters

The health service of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district is responsible for monitoring water quality - both in bathing lakes and waters and in swimming pools and indoor pools.

Bathing lakes

During the bathing season in the summer months, the district's health service regularly monitors the four bathing waters and their seven bathing sites in the district. These are located at Lake Edersee, Lake Ederauensee Teichmann, Lake Diemelsee and Lake Twistesee.

Monitoring includes visiting the bathing sites and taking water samples every 4 weeks during the bathing season (at shorter intervals in case of abnormalities). Particular attention is paid to whether, for example, blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), other contaminants or conspicuous odours are present that could lead to adverse health effects from bathing. The water samples are tested for faecal germs and provide information on the microbial quality of the water.

In special cases, the health authority can advise against bathing or even ban bathing. Since there have been no complaints so far, all bathing waters in the district could be awarded the best possible rating.

In the summer months, special weather phenomena and changing water levels may favour possible algae growth. The public health department is therefore in regular contact with the operators of the bathing waters and coordinates appropriate measures if necessary.

Swimming pools

Swimming pools must be designed in such a way that their use is not likely to cause harm to human health, especially through pathogens. This formulation from the Infection Protection Act forms the basis for the treatment and monitoring of pool water in outdoor and indoor swimming pools. It follows that pool water must be microbiologically and chemically safe. This is ensured by regular water analyses. But this also refers to the other facilities of a swimming pool such as seating areas, barefoot areas, indoor air systems, etc.

Swimming pools are complex facilities that can only be looked after and operated by well-trained staff. The care and maintenance of their technical facilities and components poses great challenges to the operators time and again. The public health department monitors compliance with the hygienic requirements in swimming pools. The requirements are derived from general technical standards, which include DIN standards or professional recommendations. The swimming pools are regularly advised and inspected by the public health department.